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Last week we did a Good Question inspired by the separation of former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver. We talked about the phenomenon of older, long-time married couples getting divorced.

But now we know why this couple split.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Arnold cheated on Maria more than a decade ago with a member of their household staff. She got pregnant. He was the father. The Times reported that he took responsibility from the beginning, privately.

After he acknowledged that he was the child’s father to Maria Shriver, she moved out.

Schwarzenegger issued a statement to the Times: “I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry.”

This got me thinking about forgiveness. It’s a conversation my wife and I have had many times. If she cheated on me, a one-time deal, I think I’d forgive her. She thinks she would not forgive me.

If Arnold cheated on Maria 10 years ago, should she forgive? I presume there are other issues that happened in the marriage of late — but if we assume they had a perfect marriage, is one thing enough to make you pick up and leave? Share your thoughts in the comments.

UPDATE: 10:07AM: On Twitter, @Ryanol and @winkMSP make the salient point – that the adultery is one thing, but concealing an affair and a love child for more than 10 years, while the mistress lives in the house is quite another.